The effect of extra feed supply on stereotypic behaviour in Asian elephants (Elphas maximus)

Abstract: Stereotypes in captive elephants is a widespread issue. Ways to tackle this is with social and feedenrichment among others. The aim of this study was to investigate if extra feed supply wouldaffect stereotypic behaviour in Asian elephants held in captivity. Three elephant cows wereprovided with extra feed and recorded during the night and morning. The results showed asignificant decrease in stereotypic behavior for one of the elephants, from 31% to 9,5% (P =0,003). While the second elephant did not engage in stereotypic behaviour, the third elephantshowed the same frequency of stereotypic behavior, 9%, during both baseline and treatment. Thethird elephant did increase her foraging significantly, from 31% to 54% (P = 0,02). Waken timespent foraging increased for all three elephants to 64-80% which is in the same range as in wildAsian elephants. Additional enrichment in the form of extra feed supply can be used both todecrease stereotypic behaviours and to increase foraging.